Deputies Nab Drugs, Cash in Christmas Eve Traffic Stop

Young County sheriff ’s deputies seized a large amount of narcotics and cash from a Lubbock man during a Christmas Eve traffic stop on State Highway 114, according to an arrest affidavit by Deputy John Evans.

The total narcotics seized included 1,353 grams of THC concentrate, 258 grams of dry psilocybin mushrooms and 4.62 pounds of marijuana, the affidavit said. Deputy Evans also reported that deputies seized $2,789 in U.S. currency during the traffic stop.

According to the affidavit, Deputy Evans and Deputy Keeton Cook were parked at the southeast corner of the intersection of State Highway 114 East and State Highway 16 North at approximately 4:06 p.m. Dec. 24, 2025, when they saw a black Honda Civic disregard a stop sign while traveling eastbound on Highway 114. The vehicle also did not have a front license plate, the affidavit said.

When Deputy Evans stopped the vehicle and made contact with the driver, Bertram Chidiebere Nwohiri Jr., 28, he stated that he immediately smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

According to the affidavit, Mr. Nwohiri initially told Deputy Evans there was no marijuana in the vehicle. Deputy Evans said he told Mr. Nwohiri that he could smell marijuana and instructed him to be honest, at which point Mr. Nwohiri admitted there was approximately 3.5 grams in the car.

Deputy Evans stated that he asked Nwohiri to step out of the vehicle and stand with Deputy Cook while he conducted a probable cause search. During that search, Deputy Evans located a small bag containing a green leafy substance, a large amount of THC concentrate and a large amount of U.S. currency. The deputy said Mr. Nwohiri was placed under arrest and secured in the back of Deputy Cook’s patrol unit while the search continued and the vehicle was prepared to be towed.

According to the affidavit, Deputy Evans later located a large plastic tub in the trunk containing numerous vacuum-sealed bags, as well as a duffle bag that also contained multiple vacuum-sealed packages.

While Deputy Evans was still searching the vehicle, he heard tires squeal and then heard Deputy Cook yelling for someone to stop running. Deputy Evans stated that he looked up and observed Mr. Nwohiri running toward a fence line north of the roadway and going over the fence. Deputy Evans wrote that he ran after Mr. Nwohiri and observed Deputy Cook jump the fence in pursuit, with Mr./Nwohiri turning and running along the fence line before Deputy Cook was able to take him back into custody.

According to the affidavit, Deputy Cook transported Nwohiri to Graham Regional Medical Center for medical clearance before taking him to the Young County Jail, where he was booked without further incident.